Buckle fastener for wrist-watch straps, bracelets, and the like



Aug. 6, 1929. tU 1,723,401

BUCKLE} FASTENER FOR WRIST WATCH STRAPS, BRACELETS, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 1928 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 6, 1929..

ABRAHAM BLUSTEIN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BUCKLE rnsmnnnn ronwnrsr-wn'rcn STRAPS, BRACELETS, sun with LIKE;

Application filed December 6, 1928. Serial No. 324,283.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in buckle devices to be used especially with wrist-watch straps or bracelets.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple but secure locking means on a fold able buckle for the purpose mentioned.

Another object is to make such a buckle of neat appearance, easy and economical to manufacture and, although securely locked when on the wearers wrist, yet easy to lock and unlock during adjustment,

Another object is to make such a buckle of simple and durable construction without sacrificing neatness of appearance.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description of the device illustrated in the drawing which is a part of this specification, and in which-- I Fig. 1 is a View of the manner in which my buckle is intended to be used-in connection' with Wrist-strap.

Fig.2 is a plan view of the foidablc buckle in its full extended position. I

Fig. 3 IS a side vlew in-section, showing the buckle of Fig.

2 in'its folded and locked position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on plane of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view iii-section oil? the inodification of my buckle illustrated in. plan in Fig. i

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively :1 s plan View of the modified term of fully open.

Fig. 8 is a iication.

In these figures, similar n'ifrnierals will designate similar parts throughout the drawing.

1 designates the clasp of the buckle. At one end of this clasp 1, there is attached one end of the strap 2 in any desired manner. My illustration shows the strap fastened mt justahly by means of a pivoted clamping toluene. This tongue is shown pivoted at l. lit 15 a well known means for adjustahly fastening a strap to a clasp and does not constitute a part of my invention. At the opposite end of the clasp there is pirotally secured at 5, the arcuate member 6 "which is one of" the foldable elements of my buckle. To the member 6 there is hingedly joined at '2' the arcuate member 8; the member 8 con stituting the other foldable element of the buckle which has attached thereto the other ide and buckle detail inplan, of another inodi terial such as leather or ribbon.

,wrist and yet. be easily end of the wrist-strap 9. The strap may be of wire mesh or of any other flexible ma- It may constitutes part of a continuous bracelet or it may carry midway between its ends a Wrist-watch or some wrist ornament. In any case, the bracelet is a continuous but flexible loop, composed of the elements 1., 2, 9, and the folding elements 6 and 8, all joined end to. end. "When the folding members 6 and 8 are in full open position, as shown in Figs.

'2, 6 and 'Z, the bracelet can he slipped over the hand onto the wrist. When the bracelet is once on the wrist, its length is contracted by the folding of the elements 6 and 8 one over the other and both beneath the strap, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. In order to secure the bracelet or strap on the wrist, it must be locked by a suitable and safe means which should keep the bracelet safe on the operated when it is desired to remove the bracelet from the wrist. For this purpose I provide what I believe to bea novel locking means, which consists in sta'n'iping out and bending}; up from the fold ing element, 8, two tongues 10. These tongues when bent up are parallel to each .other'and to the axial line of the member 8.

The edges of these tongues; which look toward the hinged end of the member 8 are slightly undercut as shown at ll, so as to provide detents which hook up with. and detain the other folding clement f3, which provided with two parallel slots designed to'coopcrate with the hooks 10 for holding I the folding members in locked position. The edges 13 of the slots 12 slip over the tongues 10, causing a slight compression and flexing of the member 6, while the said edges are forced over the upper Wide portion of the tongues 10 and the memher 6 snaps locked by the said detents. llhc undercut locking edge 11 is made rounded off as clearly shown at 14-. so that a firm pull will cause the un locking oi the folding members when the bracelet is to be removed by again flexing the member In my modified form shown in Fig. 6, I

make the member 6 an open or frame form. so that a substantial portion of the ained within 'the frame, and *tion cit both folding mem s construction eliminates s in. the form shown member 8 is c;

'bstantial hers lie hush. hulkiness such there i in Fig. where the inc: merge one within the c.

and 8 can not 5 including two hinged foldable members made of sheet metal of equal thickness, one of said members having a substantial portion of its area cut out to form a rectangular open frame, and a substantial portion of the other of said members fitting within the frame of the first member whereby the opposite faces of said portion will be flush with the opposite faces of the sides of said open frame when the members are in folded position,

and locking means for holding the said,

foldable members in folded position consisting of a plurality of undercut tongues formed in one of said members and a lurality of slots formed in the other mem er,

each tongue cooperating with a corresponding slot in the other member.

2. In a wrist-band buckle, the combination of a pair of hingedly connected foldable members made of thin sheet metal of approximately the same thickness and joined as part of a bracelet, one of said members being of open frame formation and a substantial portion of the other of said members fitting within the frame whereby the opposite faces of said portion will lie flush with the opposite faces of the sides of said open frame when in folded position, and means for holding the said foldable members in locked position consisting of a plurality of undercut tongues formed in one of said members, I

and a plurality of slots formed in the other member, each tongue cooperating with a corresponding slot in the other member.

3. In an extension device including two' foldable thin sheet metal members shaped from sheet metal stock, a hinge connectm said members,one of said members being 0% frame form and the other member fitting within the frame Whereb the opposite faces of said portion will lie ush with the opposite faces of the sides of said open frame when in folded position, and a cover member connected to. one of the foldable members for covering that part of the two foldable members which overlap, and means for holding the said foldable members in locked position consisting of a plurality of undercut tongues formed in one of said foldable members, and a pluralityof slots formed in the other foldable member, each tongue cooperating with a corresponding slot in the other member.

- 4. In a wrist band extension device, a plurality of foldable thin sheet metal members joined in a bracelet to increase the length thereof when in unfolded state, a rectangular member having a part thereof cut out to form an open frame shaped from sheet metal of light gauge, another member also shaped of sheet metal of the same gauge having a portion fitting into and lying fiushwith said open frame member when in folded sition, and means for holding said foldab e member in locked position, said means consisting of a plurality of undercut tongues of the same metal formed in one of said foldable members, and a plurality of elongated slots formed in the other member, each tonguecooperatin with a corresponding slot in the other mem r.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature.

ABRAHAM BLUSTEIN. 

